We have only wormed Ruby once (maybe twice) since we got her 3+ years ago. I have seen some threads recently in which people say they deworm a few times a year.... Wondering how important/necessary that is? I analyze every poop and have never seen any worms tho I know some can be in there and are not obviously visible.... We don't play with other dogs or really have that much 'exposure'. Neighbors have cats and one had tapes last year but I think they took care of it. Someone left a dead rat in the garage day before yesterday but it was not really chewed on (it had injuries but they looked more like a crow did it than one of my dogs)... (We do monthly heart guard but that's it)

I give Sentinel which is a HW preventative, but also takes care of some intestinal worms...

Plus Rip, Xander and Sawyer all get a fecal check done every 6 months for the Therapy Group. I'd say if you're worried, just get a fecal check done at the vet...easy enough. Most vets ask for one at the yearly exam.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

Mine are on interceptor half of the year which helps with parasites and I use a natural dewormer 2-3 times a year. But my dogs have CONSTANT contact with other dogs and it's pretty easy for them to get something. I guess if you don't take your dogs to many places where loads of other dogs are it isn't that big of a deal as far as worming so often.

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." -Anatole France

with the various rat eating incidents I've read that Ruby has had if I were in your place I'd be tempted to fecal test or alternately, worm frequently.FYI many worms and their eggs are not visible to the human eye

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
_______________________________________
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Depending on the area you live in, many, many parasites/parasite eggs or cysts are living in the soil, as well as other dog's feces. The way that most parasites are transmitted is by fecal-oral contamination. In other words, they have to ingest contaminated feces or soil in order to get the parasite. So, in very dry climates, this is less of an issue because heat will kill the eggs/cysts in most cases.

Checking fecal samples involves looking for the eggs/cysts under a microscope (you rarely see a worm in the stool unless you have a very high worm burden/count) . Most parasites shed eggs/cysts every 2-3 weeks, so it is entirely possible to miss seeing an egg/cyst simply based on the timing of the test. As a consequence, many people will prophylactically deworm just to be safe (and although many of the heartworm preventatives help control parasites, they do not cover all of them and may not be able to clear an infection if it is a strong one).

Why, do you ask, are people concerned about parasites? Well, obviously it can be a health concern for your pet. It can cause many different problems, depending on the parasite we are talking about. But, also important to note, many of the parasites can be transmitted to people. It is especially a problem for the young, the old, and the immunocompromised. Plus it is just gross... ha ha ha....

Depending on the area you live in, many, many parasites/parasite eggs or cysts are living in the soil, as well as other dog's feces. The way that most parasites are transmitted is by fecal-oral contamination. In other words, they have to ingest contaminated feces or soil in order to get the parasite. So, in very dry climates, this is less of an issue because heat will kill the eggs/cysts in most cases.

Checking fecal samples involves looking for the eggs/cysts under a microscope (you rarely see a worm in the stool unless you have a very high worm burden/count) . Most parasites shed eggs/cysts every 2-3 weeks, so it is entirely possible to miss seeing an egg/cyst simply based on the timing of the test. As a consequence, many people will prophylactically deworm just to be safe (and although many of the heartworm preventatives help control parasites, they do not cover all of them and may not be able to clear an infection if it is a strong one).

Why, do you ask, are people concerned about parasites? Well, obviously it can be a health concern for your pet. It can cause many different problems, depending on the parasite we are talking about. But, also important to note, many of the parasites can be transmitted to people. It is especially a problem for the young, the old, and the immunocompromised. Plus it is just gross... ha ha ha....

I hope that helps.

It certainly does! Thanks!

There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.

So, Dr. Blabs, would you say that if your dog has no known worm problem (no symptoms, not visible in stools, etc...) that the dewormers contained in most heartworm medication is sufficient for the average dog?

BullyLady wrote:So, Dr. Blabs, would you say that if your dog has no known worm problem (no symptoms, not visible in stools, etc...) that the dewormers contained in most heartworm medication is sufficient for the average dog?

For the average dog, probably (average meaning the typical house pet that doesn't go to dog parks, dog sports, dog shows, or has a lot of interaction with unfamiliar environments, etc). Some heartworm meds are still only covering the heartworms... so just check the label. There are some parasites it doesn't cover (ie: giardia), so I would still recommend having a stool checked at least once, maybe twice a year (depending on the area you live in). I personally check stool samples quite frequently, as I don't like to give a lot of un-necessary medications. But, that isn't a fair comparrison, as I can do them myself so it is of no cost!

I use the Quantum Herbals Pet Worm/Parasite Formula. Since beginning to use it twice a year none of my dogs have had their stools come up positive for anything, so I'm happy (I've used it 3 times thusfar).

But again, I work in a daycare environment so my dogs are exposed to many many different dogs every week. Plus we go to training at 3+ different facilities each week, in addition to regular walking. So my dogs have much more exposure to worms/parasites than your normal house pet would.